Rivka S. Katvan, graduated with honors and earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in 1979. For my thesis, I photographed life backstage on Broadway—a project that extended long after graduation and continued for nearly 40 years. I quickly became captivated by the world I observed both backstage and on stage, especially in the vibrant sphere of off-and on-Broadway productions. The theater offered me a rare opportunity to witness actors undergoing profound transformations—not only through costumes and makeup, but through an emotional journey that is almost impossible toarticulate. Though my passion for photographing backstage moments was undeniable, I was also drawn to street photography and travel photography. I never allowed my theater work to define me as an artist. I carry my camera everywhere, capturing vignettes and moments that resonate with me. My NYC Reflections series, for instance, features moody, surreal images of store mannequins reflected in the windows they inhabit. In Coney Island, I followed two men dressed in vintage clothes as they wandered among contemporary visitors, creating a lyrical sense ofunreality. Many of these projects can be explored on my website, www.rivkakatvan.com. I am also currently collaborating with my husband, Moshe Katvan—a professional photographer andartist—on a project titled Artist Portraits. I’ve always believed that my heart and eyes are interchangeable. I refuse to be confined to one subject matter when I am surrounded by such a vast array of sights, ideas, and stories. I must respond to what speaks to me in the moment, wherever my journey takes me.